Pressure's on for Masterchef contestants
3:27

Masterchef contestants are set the difficult challenge of recreating one of George Calombaris's masterpieces. Courtesy Channel Ten.

news.com.au

07 May 2014

Entertainment

Byron Finnerty, the MasterChef contestant who is heating things up on our TV screens.Source: Channel 10

HE snared the very last apron for a spot in MasterChef’s top 24, but it wasn’t just Byron Finnerty’s culinary prowess that viewers were talking about.

The reluctant bachelor, who left his girlfriend behind in the US to pursue his food dream, had viewers quietly thanking the MasterChef gods after scoring a coveted white apron in last night’s final audition episode.

Byron Finnerty waits to present his dessert to the judges.Source: Supplied

We’ve learnt that the 27-year-old hunk is also a former male model with Azure Management. The agency’s website says Finnerty “has experience in a variety of different roles including TVC’s, catalogue work and extra work.”

Byron Finnerty. Picture: Azure ManagementSource: Supplied

Byron Finnerty. Picture: Azure ManagementSource: Supplied

Finnerty, presented on the show as a deckhand from Victoria, has made no mention of his modelling days, while fellow contestant Sarah Todd, 27, has openly discussed her occupation as a model.

A representative for Azure told news.com.au that Finnerty worked for the agency during the year of 2011 and did “about five jobs within that year” including appearing on Neighbours as an extra, in a Coles car insurance launch and a McCain TV commercial.

The rep said he no longer works for them.

Clearly a man of many talents, Finnerty admits that, despite his passion for cooking, it wasn’t until numerous friends suggested he should apply for the show that he decided to drop everything and return home.

“I came from Florida, I was working with my girlfriend at the time on a yacht and we were working in the Caribbean and I got the call,” Finnerty tells news.com.au.

“I spent my last weekend with my girlfriend, and then parted ways ... she is doing her thing on the boat indefinitely and I decided to come back and do this.”

The wannabe chef even managed to break the dessert before others could taste it.Source: Supplied

Finnerty has spent the last three years travelling the world and “maintaining a pretty awesome yacht.”

“We’d always be on the move, always travelling. It was definitely a different experience coming back to Melbourne and putting down the anchor, so to speak.”

But Finnerty almost missed out on a spot in this year’s top 24 due to a glaring error he made while replicating George Calombaris’ signature dessert.

Awaiting his fate ... Finnerty thought he was going to be sent home last night.Source: Supplied

Finnerty didn’t get off to the best start, nervously cracking one of the limes before Calombaris could offer it to the others to taste.

Once cooking got under way, he then spent almost 20 minutes studying the recipe while others zoomed ahead.

But this didn’t seem to do him any favours — upon presenting his dish, Calombaris pointed out that the panic-stricken contestant had put the wrong mousse inside the white chocolate moulds of the dessert.

Finnerty cops heat from the judges.Source: Supplied

“It was a huge error,” Finnerty admitted. “For me, I remember just doing it and thinking everything was all right and then looking down and thinking ‘just send me home’.”

The wannabe Melbourne chef started tearing up as he told the judges how hard it was to leave his girlfriend behind but added she didn’t want to stand in the way of his dreams.

Fortunately, his dessert’s flawless flavour saved the day and Finnerty was handed the final apron.

Showing his sensitive side seems to have not only found favour with the judges, he’s also landed a legion of fans on social media.

I think Channel 10 just found a solution to their ratings problem - Byron #masterchefau

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Comments on this story

Brendan Posted at 2:41 PM May 07, 2014

Thought show was about cooking,2 shows in there's been 2 thats made mistakes and have been let through.stuff up should be out of competition

Chris Posted at 1:50 PM May 07, 2014

I love Masterchef and I am glad it has started off closer to the original format, although I wish they had kept the Friday Masterclass. I know editing, scripting and a certain amount of eye candy are required in order to keep the masses watching, but I hope they avoid sinking to the depths of MKR. I am a foodie with zero interest in contestants looks or in endless repeats of their whiny backstories. I just want to watch the cooking. Hopefully this year MC will ditch the histrionics, play up the sportsmanship, and focus on the food.

daniel white of Melbourne Posted at 1:45 PM May 07, 2014

This proves you don't need talent, just looks! How did I know he was going to ge the last apron, even after f#$king up the menu, or it was well planned? hmmm

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